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'{{Use British English|date=November 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}} {{Infobox school | name = St George's School, Harpenden | logo = StGeorgesHarpenden.svg | motto = {{lang-la|Levavi Oculos}} (Aim Higher) | established = 1907 | type = [[Academy (English school)|Academy]]<br>Day and [[boarding school]] | religious_affiliation = Christian | head_label = Headteacher | head = Helen Barton <ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.stgeorges.herts.sch.uk/Contact-Us/Staff-Listing |title = Staff Listing |website = St Georges School website |access-date = 31 October 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171022190639/http://www.stgeorges.herts.sch.uk/Contact-Us/Staff-Listing |archive-date = 22 October 2017 |url-status = live |df = dmy-all }}</ref> | r_head_label = | r_head = Stephen Warner | founder = [[Cecil Grant]] | specialist = | address = Sun Lane | city = [[Harpenden]]| | county = [[Hertfordshire]] | country = England | postcode = AL5 4TD | coordinates = {{coord|51.82233|-0.35367|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dec|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = Hertfordshire | local_authority = | urn = 138356 | ofsted = yes | staff = | enrolment = 1,314 | gender = [[Mixed-sex education|Coeducational]] | lower_age = 11 | upper_age = 18 | houses = Goddard {{colour box|red}}<br/>Grant {{colour box|green}}<br/>Watts {{colour box|yellow}}<br/>Monk {{colour box|blue}} | colours = Red, Green, <br /> {{colour box|Red}}{{colour box|green}} | free_label_1 = Former pupils | free_1 = [[:Category:People educated at St George's School, Harpenden|Old Georgians]] | website = http://www.stgeorges.herts.sch.uk/ }} '''St George's School, Harpenden''' (also known as '''St George's''') is a non-selective [[Day school|day]] and [[boarding school]] in [[Harpenden, Hertfordshire]], England, educating students of both sexes between the ages of eleven and eighteen, with an emphasis on its Christian ethos. It was founded in 1907 as one of Britain's first mixed-sex [[boarding schools]]. The school has [[International School]] status. The School was named as the Sunday Times' '[[Comprehensive School]] of the Year' in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/best-uk-schools-guide-comprehensive-school-of-the-year-st-george-s-school-harpenden-ppdl7s3zq|title = Comprehensive School of the Year: St George's School, Harpenden|last1 = Leonard|first1 = Sue}}</ref> In 2022, the School was ranked as the 122nd best secondary state school in the country based on combined GCSE attainment and A-Level point scores.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 January 2022 |title=Secondary State School Guide |url=https://www.schoolguide.co.uk/league_tables/secondary }}</ref> == History == The school was founded in 1907 by Reverend [[Cecil Grant]], having relocated his school southwards from [[Keswick, Cumbria]] in the [[Lake District]] to the site of the previous school. [[File:Cecil Grant - HRT SGSH 1-001.jpg|thumb|The Revd. Cecil Grant, Headmaster of St George's School 1907 - 1936]] In 1898 Grant, who was interested in co-education, was appointed the first headmaster of the newly reopened [[Keswick School]]. Along with [[Bedales School]] the school was the first co-educational day/boarding school in England.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2020-07-14|title=History of Keswick School|url=http://www.keswick.cumbria.sch.uk/History-of-Keswick-School|website=Keswick School}}</ref> After a number of years, difficulties with the local authority and lack of a chapel prompted a move. The Harpenden site was discovered by one of the masters, a new limited company was formed and Grant together with 59 boys and girls and many of the staff moved there. The new school where pupils ''could live in an atmosphere closely related to family life, based on sound Christian principles'' was officially opened in 21 June 1907.<ref name="Herald">{{cite web|access-date=2020-07-14|title=School link remains strong after almost 100 years|url=https://www.cwherald.com/a/archive/school-link-remains-strong-after-almost-100-years.191872.html|website=Cumberland & Westmorland Herald|date=28 February 2004}}</ref> [[File:St George's School.jpg|thumb|left|Aim higher entrance with clock tower above. Old Library and the chapel on the right. Girls boarding house to the left of clock tower]] The Harpenden site had previously been home to a boarding school for 100 boys founded by Rev. Wix in 1887. A chapel was added in 1891 and a swimming pool in 1894. The school experienced a drop in numbers, with several masters and pupils leaving, and closed in 1904. The site was briefly leased to a branch of the [[United Services College]].<ref name="Herald" /><ref name="School website history">{{cite web|access-date=2020-07-14|title=History|url=https://www.stgeorges.herts.sch.uk/page/?title=History&pid=15|website=St George's School}}</ref> In 1916 Grant founded a separate [[Montessori school|Montessori unit]] for pupils from 2 to 8 years of age. The initial location is unclear, but in 1924 moved to Kingston Lodge, adjacent to the school grounds. (Kingston Lodge later became Goddard House is now the music school.) In 1932 the school was renamed to St George's Children's House to attract larger numbers. Its business interests were formally merged with the main school from 1949. In 1955 it broke ties with St George's and moved to Gorselands near Harpenden common.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2020-07-14|title=A Montessori school - later moved to Gorselands | author=Rosemary Ross |url=http://www.harpenden-history.org.uk/page/the_childrens_house_st_georges_school|website=Harpenden History |date = March 2019}}</ref><ref>Weatherley, Pam (1982). "A History of St Georges School, Harpenden", St George's School Association of Parents & Staff, Harpenden. {{ISBN | 0950820407}}.</ref> Grant retired in 1936 and A. H. Watts took over as headmaster, leading the school through the war years. Houses of the school were named after both men as well as Monk and Goddard, old Georgians who had died in the First World War.<ref>{{cite web|author=Joe Pennell|access-date=2020-07-14|title=St.George's School, A Brief History|url=http://www.harpenden-history.org.uk/page_id__279_path__0p4p36p.aspx|website=Harpenden History}}</ref> Names of the boarding houses: Crosthwaite, Keswick and Skiddaw come from locations near the Cumbrian school. The [[Cinema Museum, London|Cinema Museum]] in London holds film of the school, its sports day, processions and activities from 1949. In 1967 the school became under the control of [[Hertfordshire County Council]], initially as a Grammar School and then as a [[Voluntary Aided School]] in the mid 1970's. This period saw a large expansion of the school with many new buildings and numbers expanding to 800.<ref name="School website history" /> On 1 July 2012 St George's became an [[Academy (English school)|academy]], funded by the new St George's School Harpenden Academy Trust. It continues to be supported by the Cecil Grant Founder's Trust, a charity set up after Grant's death in 1946.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cinema Museum Home Movie Database.xlsx |url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OJqSWnOFAn6RJ24jtwb21Z4Hv5svJjbp/edit?usp=embed_facebook |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=Google Docs |language=en-US}}</ref> The St. George's motto ''Levavi Oculos'' (Aim Higher) appears on the uniform badges.<ref>{{cite web |title=St George's School Harpenden - Headmistresses Welcome Page |url=https://www.stgeorges.herts.sch.uk/About-Us/Headmistress-Welcome}}</ref> It derives from their School Hymn,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kynson.org.uk/Dave/keswick_school_hymn.htm |title=Reeves is offside again<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=18 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006212258/http://www.kynson.org.uk/Dave/keswick_school_hymn.htm |archive-date=6 October 2011 |url-status = live|df=dmy-all }}</ref> ''Assurgit'', which is sung in Latin. ''Levavi Oculos'' means "I have lifted up mine eyes" and alludes to [[Psalms|Psalm]] 121, beginning "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help; my help cometh even from the Lord, who hath made Heaven and Earth." In the sense of "I have raised my sights" this is equivalent to the English motto ''Aim Higher,'' which appears over one archway at the front entrance of Keswick House. == Christian ethos == Admission to the school for day students is based mainly on location of students' homes, with students coming from many of the surrounding towns and villages. Regular attendance at a local church is required; however, the school itself is non-denominational and does not receive funding from any religious group or church.<ref>{{cite web |title=St George's School - 2020 Admissions Policy |url=https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/sh-stgeorges-herts-sch-uk/media/downloads/St.Georges%20Determined%20Criteria%20for%20Day%20Admissions%202020%2021.pdf |access-date=29 May 2019}}</ref> The school is centred on a late-nineteenth-century chapel,<ref>{{cite web |last1=B |first1=Edward |title=A Brief History of the Origins of St George's School - Mr Wix in Brampton and Harpenden |url=http://www.harpenden-history.org.uk/page_id__402.aspx?path=0p25p27p |website=Harpenden History |publisher=Harpenden History Society |access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref> which is led by a resident chaplain and supported by a part-time organist.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stgeorges.herts.sch.uk/page/?title=Staff+%2F+Governors&pid=1058 |title = St George's School - Staff / Governors}}</ref> == House system == The school is split into four day [[House system|houses]]: Grant (green), Watts (yellow), Monk (blue) and Goddard (red), respectively named after Rev. Cecil Grant, the founder of the school, Dr. Arthur Watts, the second headmaster, and Bertram Monk and Lister Goddard, two former pupils who died in the Great War.<ref>{{cite web |website=St George's School Website| title=Day Houses |url=https://www.stgeorges.herts.sch.uk/page/?title=Day+Houses&pid=26|access-date=10 October 2020}}</ref><ref name="History">{{cite web |website=St George's School Website| title=History|url=https://www.stgeorges.herts.sch.uk/page/?title=History&pid=15|access-date=10 October 2020}}</ref> ==Academics== In 2019 St George's was ranked third in examination results in the country for state schools and rivals some of the private schools. Its academic Sixth Form has the third highest progress score in the county, beating almost all local Independent Schools <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/schools-by-type?step=default&table=schools&region=919&la-name=hertfordshire&la-name=hertfordshire%2chertfordshire%2chertfordshire%2chertfordshire&geographic=la&for=16to18&basedon=Absence&datasetfilter=provisional&searchtype=&orderby=ks5.0.PROGRESS_BAND_ALEV&orderdir=asc&datatype=integer&sortpolicy=&thenby=ks5.0.VA_INS_ALEV&thenbydatatype=integer&thenbysortpolicy=inversepolicy |title=All schools and colleges in Hertfordshire - GOV.UK|website=Find and compare schools in England|language=en|access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> (Including [[St Albans School, Hertfordshire|St Alban’s School]] and [[Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School]]). In 2014 it received an Outstanding Ofsted rating. It has a [[Progress 8 benchmark|Progress 8]] measure of 0.95 which is well above average.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2020-09-04|title=St George's School |url=https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/138356/st-george%27s-school/secondary|website=GOV.UK}}</ref> [[File:St George's School Harpenden.jpg|thumb|left|St George's School Harpenden]] ==Extra-curricular activities== The school music department (via on-site tuition company Musicale) offer peripatetic instrumental tuition for all woodwind, string and brass instruments as well as classical and jazz piano, guitar, drums and voice. Regular concerts take place in the chapel and the old library.<ref>{{cite web |title=St George's School - Music Curriculum Page |url=https://www.stgeorges.herts.sch.uk/Learning/Curriculum/Music}}</ref> During the autumn term each year, the Music Department collaborate with the Drama and Performing Arts Department to produce a whole school production. The Drama Department also host an 'Inter-House Drama Festival', which is adjudicated by a professional actor, and a lower-school drama production.<ref>{{cite web |title=St George's School - Drama Curriculum Page |url=https://www.stgeorges.herts.sch.uk/Learning/Curriculum/Drama}}</ref> In 1939 St George's School won the first [[National Schools Sevens]] tournament and has continued this Rugby success producing Rugby Sevens and Rugby Union internationals. The Rugby teams continue this legacy today producing many England Under-18 and Under-16 Rugby Players.<ref>url=http://www.national7s.co.uk/Competition.asp?TSID=659|title=National 7s Tournament Results - 1939</ref> The school is notable for having first fielded the English national players [[Owen Farrell]] and [[Maro Itoje]], alongside two other members of England's [[rugby union]] team (as of 2019).<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-50240391|title=Rugby World Cup 2019: Where are the England players from?|access-date=1 November 2019|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Until September 2019, house points cumulated via means of various events would form an overall tally and the winning house be awarded the Chapman Cup. The Chapman Cup has since been re-named. == Boarding == [[File:St George's School Aim Higher Entry.jpg|thumb|Aim Higher entrance on Carlton Road leading to girls boarding house]] Keswick and Crosthwaite House provide boarding accommodation for girl and boy boarders respectively.<ref>{{cite web |title=St George's School - Boarding Homepage |url=https://www.stgeorges.herts.sch.uk/Boarding}}</ref> St George's was one of the first schools in Britain to provide mixed-sex boarding education.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/files/1573915/urn/SC061220.pdf | title = Ofsted Report 2011 – St George's School | access-date=11 May 2010 | publisher = Ofsted}}</ref> == Old Georgians == <!-- Add in alphabetical order by surname --> Distinguished members of the schools alumni, known as 'Old Georgians' include; {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! | Name ! class="unsortable" | Description |- |[[Christopher Ball (linguist)|Sir Christopher Ball]] | Academic. Warden of [[Keble College, Oxford]], from 1980 to 1988. The first [[Chancellor (education)|chancellor]] of the [[University of Derby]]. |- |[[Sacha Bennett]] | Actor, writer, producer and director for film and television. |- |[[Lennox Berkeley]] | British composer of French influence, moving towards serialism in later life.<ref>{{cite web |title=Life Timeline |url=https://www.lennoxberkeley.org.uk/timeline.php |website=Lennox Berkeley Socitety}}</ref> |- |[[Donald Coxeter]] | One of the great geometers of the 20th century.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Porteous |first1=Ian |title=Obituary: Donald Coxeter |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/apr/25/guardianobituaries.highereducation1 |access-date=30 May 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=25 Apr 2003}}</ref> |- |[[Maurice Drake|Sir Maurice Drake DFC]] |High Court Judge of England and Wales, in charge of the jury list from 1991 to retirement in 1995. Appointed Treasurer of [[Lincoln's Inn]] in 1997. Officer in the RAF and awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] during World War II. |- |[[Hilary Evans]] | British pictorial archivist, author, and researcher into UFOs and other paranormal phenomena |- |[[Owen Farrell]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-50240391|title=Rugby World Cup 2019: Where are the England players from?|access-date=1 November 2019|df=dmy-all}}</ref> | [[Rugby Union]] player for [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] and [[England national rugby union team|England]] - [[Triple Crown (rugby union)|Triple Crown]], [[Calcutta Cup]], [[Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]], [[Grand Slam (rugby union)|Grand Slam]] Winner 2016 and [[2019 Rugby World Cup]] runner-up. |- |[[George Ford (rugby union)|George Ford]]<ref name=":0" /> | Rugby Union player for [[Leicester Tigers]] and [[England national rugby union team|England]] - [[Triple Crown (rugby union)|Triple Crown]], [[Calcutta Cup]], [[Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]], [[Grand Slam (rugby union)]] Winner 2016 and [[2019 Rugby World Cup]] runner up. |- |[[Victor Goddard]] | Air Marshall. A senior commander in the Royal Air Force during World War II. |- |[[Laura Haddock]] | Actress – played Alison in ''[[The Inbetweeners Movie]]'', [[Meredith Quill]] in the [[Guardians of the Galaxy (film)]] series, and [[Lucrezia Donati]] in ''[[Da Vinci's Demons]]''. |- |[[Patrick Heron]] | English abstract artist with work currently hanging in the [[Tate Gallery, St Ives]]. |- |[[George Hogg (adventurer)|George Hogg]] | British journalist who rescued 60 Chinese orphans during the Japanese occupation,<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/china/article1362720.ece The long march of a forgotten English hero] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907021500/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/china/article1362720.ece |date=7 September 2008 }}, ''[[The Times]]''.</ref> as portrayed in the 2008 film ''[[The Children of Huang Shi]]''.<ref>{{IMDb title|id=0889588|title=The Children of Huang Shi (2008)}}</ref> A biography ''Blades of Grass – The Story of George Aylwin Hogg'' was published in January 2017 |- |[[Francis Hollis]] | Bishop of Labuan and Sarawak from 1938 to 1948. |- |[[Francis House]] | Archdeacon of Macclesfield from 1967 to 1978 |- |[[Kenneth Horne]] | Comedian. |- |[[Andrew Hunter (British politician)|Andrew Hunter]] | Member of Parliament, 1983-2005. |- [Roger Hunter, England amateur international heavyweight boxer; RAF (1938–46), Distinguished Flying Cross, mentioned in Dispatches; CBE for services with the British Council] |[[Maro Itoje]]<ref name=":0" /> | [[England national rugby union team|England]] and [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]], [[Rugby Union]] player- Debuted for England 14/2/16, [[Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]] - (vs [[Italy national rugby union team|Italy]]). [[Triple Crown (rugby union)|Triple Crown]], [[Calcutta Cup]], Six Nations and [[Grand Slam (rugby union)|Grand Slam]] Winner 2016 and [[2019 Rugby World Cup]] runner-up. |- |[[Wanda Jablonski]] | Leading journalist of the oil industry from 1948 to 1988. |- |[[Paul Liebrandt]] | American Celebrity Chef <ref>{{cite news |title=Article |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/22/dining/22lieb.html |website=New York Times |date=21 April 2009 |last1=Moskin |first1=Julia }}</ref> |- |[[Frances Lincoln]] | Publisher and founder of [[Frances Lincoln Publishers]]. |- |[[Edward Martell (politician)]] | Politician and [[Libertarian]] activist. |- |Varoon Nesarasa | One of [[The Puppini Sisters]].<ref>Harpenden Magazine, July 2006.</ref> |- |[[Frederick Moore (Cambridge University cricketer)|Frederick Moore]] |[[Cricketer]] for [[Cambridge University]] and Schoolmaster. |- |[[Athol Murray (cricketer)|Athol Murray]] | [[First-class cricket]]er for Warwickshire. |- |[[Michael Oakeshott]] | English philosopher with particular interests in political thought. |- |[[Peter Alan Rayner]] | British coin-book author having written ''English Silver Coinage 1649 to date''. |- |[[Jack Singleton]]<ref name=":0" /> | [[England national rugby union team|England]] and [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]], [[Rugby Union]] player- Debuted for England 11/8/19 (vs [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]]), at [[Twickenham stadium|Twickenham]], appeared as a substitute in the [[2019 Rugby World Cup]] vs [[United States national rugby union team|United States]] |- |[[Denis Wright (composer)|Dr Denis Wright]] | Composer and conductor of [[brass band]] music. |- |} == References == {{Reflist|30em}} ==Further reading== *{{Cite book|last=Storrie |first=Paddy |year=2004 |title=Here I Am: Send Me|publisher=St. George's School|location=Harpenden, Hertfordshire}} ==External links== {{Portal|England|Schools}} *[http://www.stgeorges.herts.sch.uk/ St George's School website] {{Schools in Hertfordshire}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Saint George's School, Harpenden}} [[Category:Educational institutions established in 1907]] [[Category:Boarding schools in Hertfordshire]] [[Category:State funded boarding schools in England]] [[Category:Secondary schools in Hertfordshire]] [[Category:Harpenden]] [[Category:1907 establishments in England]] [[Category:Academies in Hertfordshire]]'